Student personnel services in Negro colleges of the South Atlantic states PublicDeposited

Descriptions

The Problem
The general purpose of this study was to determine the
completeness and adequacy of student personnel services in
Negro colleges of the South Atlantic States. Specifically,
the problem was (1) to identify and analyze the nature of
student personnel practices in Negro colleges of the South
Atlantic States; (2) to compare student personnel practices
in private colleges, public colleges, junior colleges, senior
colleges, colleges accredited by the Southern Association
of Colleges and Secondary Schools, and colleges not
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary
Schools; (3) to analyze these practices in light of
significant trends as revealed through a review of the literature
in the field of student personnel work; and (4) to
offer suggestions and recommendations commensurate with
what appears to be sound policy and practice prevailing in
the field of student personnel work.
methods of investigation
1. Permission to study the student personnel programs
in the colleges was requested from the governing authorities
of the institutions.
2. Cooperation in securing data was requested from
the coordinators of student personnel services.
3. A personal visit was made to each institution and
data were obtained by an interview with the coordinator of
student personnel services. Administrative officers, faculty
members, and students were also consulted for information.
An interview instrument was designed for structuring
the interviews.
4. Literature in the field of student personnel work
was reviewed in order to discover what appears to be sound
policy and practice prevailing in the field. This information
was useful in devising the interview instrument; it
served as a basis for making comparisons and inferences for
suggesting improvements of student personnel services.
5. A rating scale was designed by the writer to serve
as a self-evaluation device for each institution.
Findings and conclusions
The results of the cumulative point averages from the
rating system and the percentage ratings of the different
categories of colleges were as follows: (1) accredited
colleges rated first; (2) senior colleges rated second;
(3) private colleges rated third; (4) public colleges rated
fourth; (5) nonaccredited colleges rated fifth; and (6)
junior colleges rated sixth.
Weaknesses were more pronounced in the deeper aspects
of the services. The term "deeper aspects" refers to the
use of methods which delve deep into the personality of the
individual in assisting him in solving problems and making
decisions and choices.
Adequate provision was made for the development of the
religious life of students, functional student governing
bodies in residence halls, and part-time jobs for students.
The recent establishment of the majority of junior
colleges contributed to many of the inadequacies in their
student personnel programs.
Recommendations
Several suggestions were made by the writer for the
improvement of the many services and their different aspects;
however, careful scrutiny revealed that the weaknesses
in the deeper aspects of services and the following
elements wore most in need of improvements (1) trained
coordinators of student personnel services; (2) better communication
between college personnel workers and high -
school counselors; (3) involvement of the student personnel
staff in the admissions program; (4) more attention directed
toward remedial services, vocational counseling and testing, and placement in nonteaching positions; (5) referral
by faculty advisers to special counselors; (6) provision
for more student union buildings or similar structures;
(7) use of more interest, personality and general achievement
tests; and (8) making the research and evaluation service
real and practical.